Portable armrest divider

ABSTRACT

A portable armrest divider is disclosed that is mounted on a vehicle armrest and expands the surface area of the original armrest, while providing a vertical separation barrier between the two individuals seated on either side of the armrest. The armrest is portable, in that it folds in half for easy travel.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of furniture,specifically chairs with armrests.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Row seating is employed in airplanes, movie theaters, waiting rooms, andother similar locations. Their great advantage is that they provideseating for large numbers of people in close proximity of each other.

A major disadvantage of row seating as currently offered by the industryis that the armrests are narrow and is difficult to use at the same timefor both people sitting in the seats on both sides of the armrests.

Another disadvantage is that these armrests are unsanitary. Thoughcommon practice is to wipe them down between movies when there is someobvious evidence of a need, e.g., some sort of liquid on the material,these armrests can go entire days without proper cleaning.

Travelers often seek some method to expand the space they take while onplanes. For these individuals, the size of the armrest is nearlyirrelevant—they want to take it all. For the passengers unlucky enoughto be seated next to such people, travel can be very uncomfortable.Faced with pushing back against a large and often unruly individual issocially awkward and uncomfortable to many people, who tend to justtolerate the boorish behavior rather than risk an even more unpleasantplane flight by adding a tense conversation.

The frequent traveler needs a device that can increase the armrest sizeavailable to him, provide some simple barrier to the spatialencroachments by his neighbors, and ensure a sanitary surface on whichto rest his arms and elbows.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure a portable armrest divider for use by those inrow seating who desire armrests that are wider, more sanitary, or have aseparation than the installed armrests provide.

Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparentto those of ordinary skill in the art upon reference to the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the disclosure, and to show by way ofexample how the same may be carried into effect, reference is now madeto the detailed description of the disclosure along with theaccompanying figures in which corresponding numerals in the differentfigures refer to corresponding parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the Armrest Divider 100.

FIG. 2 is the second perspective view as FIG. 1, viewed more closelythan in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a third perspective view of the Armrest Divider.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the Armrest Divider 100 partiallyfolded.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the Armrest Divider 100 with optionalembodiment including a Divider Strap 200.

FIG. 6 shows a front view of the Armrest Divider 100.

FIG. 7 shows a front view of the Armrest Divider 100 in the foldedposition (not including Mounting Strap 140 and Adjustable Buckle 150).

FIG. 8 contains a legend for the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

While the making and using of various embodiments of the presentdisclosure are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated thatthe present disclosure provides many applicable inventive concepts,which can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. Thedisclosure is primarily described and illustrated hereinafter inconjunction with various embodiments of a folding Portable ArmrestDivider 11. The specific embodiment discussed herein is, however, merelyis illustrative of specific ways to make and use the disclosure and donot limit the scope of the disclosure to the specific context disclosed.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the installed Armrest Divider.

FIG. 2 shows the same perspective view of one embodiment of theinstalled device. This embodiment comprises three flat surfaces 110,120, 130 connected by a Hinge 160 on one straight side where they meet.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the Left Side 110 and Right Side120 are mirror images of each other, with the Section Divider 130connectedly hinged between them so they can be folded together as athree-page book, as shown in FIG. 7, or opened fully as in FIGS. 1-3, 5,and 6, so the Left Side 110 and Right Side 120 lay flat on either sideof the Section Divider 130, which acts as a middle page that isconstructed to rigidly extend upwards when the Armrest Divider 100assembly is in an open position.

The Armrest Divider 100 is typically mounted on a vehicle armrest, andheld in place by two adjustable Mounting Straps 140 that extend from theexterior Sides 110, 120 of the Armrest Divider 100, down and around thevehicle's stock armrest, and fixed in place by an Adjustable Buckle 150below the armrest.

The Armrest 100 is currently built using flat inelastic Mounting Straps140 in conjunction with the Adjustable Buckle 150, but an alternativeembodiment could use elastic Mounting Straps 140 and a non-adjustablebuckle, or even just elastic loops that fit over a seat's armrest tohold them in place.

FIG. 4 shows the invention partially closed. This drawing shows aparticular location for the Mounting Straps 140 going through slots inthe Right and Left Sides 110, 120. (This drawing does not show the lowerportion of the straps.) A person with ordinary skill in the art couldlocate the Mounting Straps 140 in several locations, and use the twostraps as shown, or use a different number or type of straps.

Though the Left Side and 110 and Right Side 120 are mirror images inthis embodiment, the invention does not require that the two sides bealike. The three parts of the Armrest Divider 100 can be all threealike, or substantially different, except that all three of the majorcomponents must attach together on one side.

The Armrest Divider 100 must be constructed to hold the central DividerSection 130 vertically in place. There are many means for holding theDivider Section vertical, including the use thick, hinged surfaces asdemonstrated and shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, or using Divider Straps 200that keep the Section Divider 130 upright when the sides are open, asshown in FIG. 5. The applicant asserts that a person having ordinaryskill in the art could employ a multitude of constructions of theArmrest Divider 100 that allow it to close into an essentially flatproduct, and open such that the Section Divider 130 is held upright whenthe Left and Right Sides 110, 120 are opened.

As the Armrest Divider 100 is currently constructed, a user mounts theinvention by: 1) opening the Left and Right Sides 110 and 120, 2)locating the Armrest Divider 100 on top of the armrest on which theArmrest Divider 100 is to be mounted, 3) joining the two ends of theMounting Straps 140 under the armrest using the Adjustable Buckle 150,and 4) tightening the Mounting Straps 140 so the Armrest Divider 100 isheld in place.

To remove the Armrest Divider 100 from a mounted position on a vehiclearmrest, a user simply releases the Adjustable Buckle 150, folds theArmrest Divider 100, and picks up the folded Armrest Divider 100 forstorage.

It is considered within the ambit of one skilled in the art to constructan Armrest Divider 100 that uses other methods of holding the inventionin place. For example, for row seats that have a constructiondisallowing the straps from encircling the stock armrest, a set offold-out rails that extend from the bottom of the Left and Right Sides110 and 120, or a pair of spring-loaded clamps attached at the ends ofthe device that extend down and grasp the stock armrest.

What is claimed is:
 1. An Armrest Divider comprising: a) a SectionDivider constructed with a rigid flat surface and at least one straightedge; b) a first rigid flat surface constructed with a straight edgethat matches the straight edge of the Section Divider; c) a second rigidflat surface constructed with a straight edge that matches the straightedge of the Section Divider; d) a means for hingedly connecting thematching straight edge of the three aforementioned surfaces such that:i) the three surfaces can reach a flat Closed position, with the SectionDivider positioned between the first rigid flat surface and the secondrigid flat surface, and the first rigid flat surface and second rigidflat surface each have an exterior face and an interior face; ii) theconnection between the three surfaces allows the second rigid flatsurface and first rigid flat surface to reach an Open position, in whichthe hinged surfaces are open to create a 180°-angled flat surfacebetween the first rigid flat surface and second rigid flat surface, withthe Section Divider centered between the first rigid flat surface andsecond rigid flat surface, and held vertical and perpendicular to thefirst rigid flat surface and second rigid flat surface; wherein the Openposition is configured to create two or more separated armrest sections;and e) one or more pairs of Mounting Straps extending from the exteriorfaces of the first rigid flat surface and second rigid flat surface. 2.The Armrest Divider of claim 1 wherein the one or more pairs of MountingStraps comprise an elastic loop.
 3. The Armrest Divider of claim 1wherein a paper binding serves as the hinge between the three flatsurfaces.
 4. The Armrest Divider of claim 1 further comprising one ormore Buckles; wherein each of the one or more Buckles connect together apair of Mounting Straps.
 5. The Armrest Divider of claim 4 wherein theBuckles are configured to adjust the length of the Mounting Straps. 6.The Armrest Divider of claim 1 wherein the pairs of Mounting Straps aresupplemented or replaced by a pair of Mounting Stands extendingvertically downward that straddle the chair's armrest.
 7. A method ofincreasing the effective surface area of a chair's armrest, the methodcomprising: a) attaching an Armrest Divider on top of the armrest; b)wherein the Armrest Divider comprises a Section Divider, a first rigidflat surface, and a second rigid flat surface; and c) wherein theconnection between the Section Divider and the first rigid flat surfaceand second rigid flat surface is configured to create a 180°-angled flatsurface between the first rigid flat surface and second rigid flatsurface, with the Section Divider centered between the first rigid flatsurface and second rigid flat surface and held vertical andperpendicular to the first rigid flat surface and second rigid flatsurface so as to create two or more separated armrest sections.
 8. Themethod of claim 7 wherein the Armrest Divider is mounted to a chair'sarmrest by: a) placing the Armrest Divider on top of the armrest; b)using a flexible lash to affix the Armrest Divider to the chair'sarmrest by placing the lash around the bottom of the chair's armrest;and c) removing slack from the lash until the Armrest Divider is fixedin place.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the Armrest Divider comprisesa foldable surface and a zipper apparatus; wherein the zipper apparatusis configured to secure the Armrest Divider in a folded Closed position.10. The method of claim 9 further comprising unzipping the ArmrestDivider and unfolding the Armrest Divider prior to placing it on top ofthe armrest.
 11. The method of claim 7 wherein the Armrest Dividercomprises an electronic charging source configured to charge anelectronic device.
 12. The method of claim 7 in which the flat rigidsurface is affixed to the chair's armrest by at least one of clamps onthe ends of the surface and rigid guides extending from the surface tostraddle the armrest.
 13. An Armrest Divider comprising: a) a SectionDivider constructed with a rigid flat surface and at least one straightedge; b) a first rigid flat surface constructed with a straight edgethat matches the straight edge of the Section Divider; c) a second rigidflat surface constructed with a straight edge that matches the straightedge of the Section Divider; d) a means for hingedly connecting thematching straight edge of the three aforementioned surfaces such that:i) the three surfaces can reach a flat Closed position, wherein theClosed position is configured to be secured shut by a zipper apparatusrunning along an outer edge of at least the first rigid flat surface andsecond rigid flat surface; and wherein the zipper apparatus isconfigured to connect the first rigid flat surface and second rigid flatsurface; ii) the connection between the three surfaces allows the secondrigid flat surface and first rigid flat surface to reach an Openposition, in which the hinged surfaces are open to create a 180°-angledflat surface between the first rigid flat surface and second rigid flatsurface, with the Section Divider centered between the first rigid flatsurface and second rigid flat surface, and held vertical andperpendicular to the first rigid flat surface and second rigid flatsurface; wherein the Open position is configured to create two or moreseparated armrest sections; and e) one or more pairs of Mounting Standsextending downward from the exterior faces of the first rigid flatsurface and second rigid flat surface.
 14. The Armrest Divider of claim13 wherein the Section Divider comprises at least one electroniccharging source and a backup battery electronically coupled to theelectronic charging source.
 15. The Armrest Divider of claim 15 whereinthe electronic charging source comprises a universal serial bus chargingport.
 16. The Armrest Divider of claim 13 wherein the Mounting Standscomprise a rubberized coating on an interior surface; wherein theinterior surface is configured to face an armrest while the ArmrestDivider is in the Open position.
 17. The Armrest Divider of claim 13wherein the Armrest Divider comprises a surface material from at leastone of vintage leather, rubberized coating, cushioning, and sports teamslogos.
 18. The Armrest Divider of claim 13 wherein the Closed positionis configured to comprise a pouch internal to the first rigid flatsurface and second rigid flat surface; wherein the pouch is configuredto be secured by the zipper apparatus.
 19. The Armrest Divider of claim13 further comprising a handle coupled to an external surface of atleast one of the Section Divider, first rigid flat surface, and secondrigid flat surface.
 20. The Armrest Divider of claim 13 wherein theSection Divider comprises two flat surfaces; and wherein the two flatsurfaces of the Section Divider are coupled to each other using at leastone of a button mechanism, magnetic mechanism, and screw mechanism.